Grand Central Stockport 4216684 209866950 2008-05-03T08:12:03Z SmackBot 433328 Date the maintenance tags or general fixes {{Expand|date=December 2007}}{{Building redevelopment}}'''Grand Central Stockport''', locally known as '''Grand Central''' is a leisure and entertainment complex located on Wellington Road South (A6) in [[Stockport]], [[Greater Manchester]]. It is located adjacent to [[Stockport railway station]]. Redevelopment, with the target completion date in 2009, will add residential and a more significant retail element to the complex, whilst retaining the existing entertainment outlets such as the cinema and swimming pool (see '[[Grand Central Stockport#Redevelopment|Redevelopment]]' below). It is currently owned by [[Targetfollow]] in partnership with [[Stockport Metropolitan Borough Council]]. [[Image:Grand central stockport.gif|right]] ==List of Outlets== * 10 screen [[Cineworld]] multiplex cinema<ref name="Cineworld Stockport"> {{cite web | title = Cineworld Cinemas - Stockport | publisher = [[Cineworld]] | url = http://www.cineworld.co.uk/reservation/ChoixResa.jgi?REGION=4&CINEMA=52 | accessdate = 2008-03-12}} </ref> (formerly [[UGC]], [[Virgin Cinemas]] and [[MGM]]) *[[Pizza Hut]] *[[Subway Restaurants|Subway]] *[[McDonald's]] Drive Thru *The [[Tasty Fish]] chip-shop (as in [[The Other Two]] song of the same name). *A [[Tenpin]] bowling alley <ref name="Stockport - Tenpin"> {{cite web | title = Stockport - Tenpin | publisher = [http://www.tenpin.co.uk Tenpin] | url = http://www.tenpin.co.uk/home/our_locations/stockpor.stml | accessdate = 2008-03-12}} </ref> *'Laser Quest' Arcade{{Fact|date=March 2008}}. * The largest [[Swimming Pool]] in the Borough of Stockport, known as Grand Central Pools and operated by [[Serco]].<ref name="Stockport - Grand Central Pools"> {{cite web | title = Stockport Metropolitan Borough Council - Swimming Pools - Grand Central Pools | publisher = [[Stockport Metropolitan Borough Council]] | url = http://www.stockport.gov.uk/atozindex/grandcentralpools | accessdate = 2008-03-15}} </ref> * A Health and Fitness Centre, within the Grand Central Pools<ref name="Stockport - Grand Central Pools"> {{cite web | title = Stockport Metropolitan Borough Council - Swimming Pools - Grand Central Pools | publisher = [[Stockport Metropolitan Borough Council]] | url = http://www.stockport.gov.uk/atozindex/grandcentralpools | accessdate = 2008-03-15}} </ref> There was formerly a [[Burger King]] on the site, but this closed around 2003, whilst only the one which still exists in the area is in Stockport town centre. ==Redevelopment== It was announced in February 2007 that the complex will be redeveloped by the local council and property company [[Targetfollow]], at an estimated cost of £100 million<ref name="Stockport Express - £100m of Investment for Grand Central"> {{cite web | title = Stockport Express - £100m Investment for Grand Central | publisher = [[Stockport Express]] | url = http://www.stockportexpress.co.uk/news/s/224/224039_100m_investment_for_grand_central.html | accessdate = 2008-03-12}} </ref>.The developers, [[Targetfollow]], expect to be the work to have been completed by 2010<ref name="Grand Central, Stockport - Homepage"> {{cite web | title = Grand Central, Stockport - Welcome to Grand Central Stockport | publisher = [http://www.targetfollow.co.uk/ Targetfollow] | url = http://www.grandcentralstockport.com/index.asp | accessdate = 2008-03-15}} </ref>. The ''Grand Central Squares'' and ''Heaven and Hell'' nightclubs closed some while earlier{{Specify|date=March 2008}};''Brannigan's'' bar shut down more recently{{Specify|date=March 2008}}.It is generally thought the council want to make the area more family orientated after Grand Central became notorious over the years with its reputation for drunken violence from youthful revellers.{{Fact|date=March 2008}} ==Transport Links== Extensive carparking is available within the complex operated by RCP Parking Ltd, with over 554 spaces. Parking charges range from £1.00 for 3 Hours to £7.50 for a whole days parking<ref name="Regional Car Parks - Stockport Grand Central"> {{cite web | title = Regional Car Parks - Grand Central (Stockport) | publisher = [http://www.rcpparking.co.uk/ Regional Car Parks] | url = http://www.regionalcarparks.co.uk/fulllist_details.php?id=7 | accessdate = 2008-03-30}} </ref>. The amount of car-parking space is set to be more than doubled with the redvelopment plans as there are plans to build a multi-storey car park within the complex<ref name="Grand Central, Stockport - The Vision"> {{cite web | title = Grand Central, Stockport - The Vision | publisher = [http://www.targetfollow.co.uk/ Targetfollow] | url = http://www.grandcentralstockport.com/vision.asp | accessdate = 2008-03-30}} </ref>. Public transport connections are good with the towns mainline railway station located at the rear of the complex, providing rail services locally and rail services to many destinations across the UK (see [[Stockport railway station]]). There are also a number of bus stops located at the front of the complex on the A6 road providing services into the town centre and to the North towards Manchester and south towards [[Hazel Grove]] and [[Buxton]]. The town centre and bus station is only located a short walk down the hill. == Trivia == {{Trivia|date=May 2008}} Famous visitors to Grand Central Leisure Park include [[Jason Donovan]] and [[Peter Cox|Go West]] (as musical guests in Volts and Brannigan's respectively), [[Emma Morton-Smith]] (as clubber) whilst [[Mr. Scuff]] posed for press photos here. [[Sarah Harding]] and broadcaster [[Chelsea Norris]] used to work here; Sarah as part of the promotions team for ''Heaven and Hell'' and Chelsea in the [[Pizza Hut]] restaurant at the front of the park. ==References== {{Reflist}} {{coor title dms|53|24|23|N|2|09|40|W|type:landmark}} ==External links== *[http://www.grandcentralstockport.co.uk Official Website] *[http://www.stockport.gov.uk Stockport Metropolitan Borough Council] *[http://www.targetfollow.co.uk Targetfollow (Owners of the Complex)] *[http://www.sportinstockport.com Stockport Sports Trust] *[http://www.rcpparking.co.uk RCP Parking - The Operator of Car Parks within the Complex] [[Category:Sports venues in Greater Manchester]] [[Category:Buildings and structures in Stockport|Grand Central Leisure Park]]